Thursday, July 30, 2026 at 8:00 PM to 10:30 PM
2220 Arts + Archives, Los Angeles
Mezzanine presents DREAD BEAT AN’ BLOOD, directed by Franco Rosso, 1979, UK, 46m, digital. L.A. premiere 2K restoration by the British Film Institute, released by Seventy-Seven followed by: LINTON KWESI JOHNSON IN CONCERT, directed by Roger Thomas, 1985, UK, 26m, digital. ~ We are thrilled to present this stunning verité documentary about the legendary dub poet Linton Kwesi Johnson (LKJ)—which paints a vivid cinematic portrait of Brixton in the late 1970’s on the cusp of Thatcherism—paired with a rare concert film originally broadcast on British television. A member of the British Black Panthers, the 27-year-old LKJ we see on screen had already become an essential voice for British African-Caribbean youth, pioneering a genre known as dub poetry: militant passionate verse about the Black liberation struggle in Britain set to heavy dub. Director Franco Rosso (BABYLON) kinetically documents LKJ’s live poetry and reggae performances; his recording and mixing sessions with producer Dennis Bovell; and his activism, including a powerful protest for the unjustly imprisoned Black Briton George Lindo, about whom Johnson wrote “It Dread inna Inglan.” The film gained national attention when its TV premiere was delayed by the BBC until Margaret Thatcher was elected, so great was the concern about Johnson’s powers of persuasion. Originally screened at the Los Angeles Independent Film Exposition (FilmEx) in 1980 and unseen since its U.S. premiere, we are honored to revive DREAD BEAT AN’ BLOOD for L.A. audiences in a beautiful new restoration. “One of the most powerful examples of the pervasive influence that Jamaican and reggae culture had on 1970s England.” -Ink 19 “A GEM... A portrait of the artist as principled activist.” -Sasha Frere-Jones, 4Columns “If any young artists need to know about longevity and integrity, Linton Kwesi Johnson is the one to look to... He knew his path and he walked it. His words are still relevant and that reggae bass is still vibrating.” -Steve McQueen Total runtime: 72 min. In English and Jamaican patois. Special thanks to Gabriele Caroti (Seventy-Seven) and Pauline Kraatz.